Calling All Micro/Independent Brand Suggestions
WC Friends, some of you may recall that last year, once polls were implemented, we hosted a Best Micro Brand Under $3000 tournament. We started with 64 teams and had four matchups a day, lasting 16 days, until we had a champion, Farer. This year I want to line it up with the March Madness Tournament starting on March 14th and hopefully repeat the same each March.
That said, what are the brands you would like to see? I can easily pull 64 names, but where is the fun in that? Would love some suggestions here and we can use the reactions to measure popularity. Are there brands we did not use last year you would like to see this year? No need to suggest all the popular ones like Monta, Baltic, etc.
Couple guidelines:
Should be what most would consider micro or small independent brand (let’s not debate the difference, it is the spirit).
Should have a lineup of models with some industry tenure (IE not a new kickstarter brand your cousin’s neighbor’s coworker just launched).
Must have largely original designs and/or innovations (sorry homage/Ali brands you have your place, just not the tournament).
Should have brand recognition within the community (IE, if you search will you see active discussions on the brand or their watches?).
I realize we all have favorites, but as we saw last year, brands with little name recognition had one sided match-ups and made for less than compelling discussions. A brand’s exclusion is not a commentary on the quality of the brand.
We will have brackets this time around to make it a little more interesting, but I will share those at the start.
Watch enthusiast who insists on the next watch being the last.
Yes!!! It’s back!!!
Yes!!! It’s back!!!
Hope it is as fun and even bigger than last year. Loved all the brand engagement we got with the community.
Echo/Neutra, Malm Watches, Tusenö and E. C. Andersson all seem to match your criteria. All, small with a line up that people are aware of. I know I’m a bit Swedish brand heavy here, but hey that’s where I’m living now.
Axia, Beaubleu, Oak & Oscar
I don't own any of those, but I looked at a lot of pictures.
Raven, Mitch Mason and Heinrich are a few that I been looking way to much lately
Boldr and RZE watches. I'd recommend Masa Horlogeries but those dudes seem to only sell them at their one boutique. That or you have to DM the seller themselves for one. Pity since they've made several (limited) good looking dress watches and chronometers.
Boldr and RZE watches. I'd recommend Masa Horlogeries but those dudes seem to only sell them at their one boutique. That or you have to DM the seller themselves for one. Pity since they've made several (limited) good looking dress watches and chronometers.
The first two are fairly popular and solid suggestions. Masa seems to fall more in the modding side of things as their watches are made to order using existing watches, but definitely some cool work.
Here is my list - starting with the "A"s:
AnOrdain
Aquastar
Aquatico
Astor + Banks
Audaz
Audric
Autodromo
Axios
On to the "B"-"D"s:
Baltic
Bamford
Behrens
Bern
Bernhardt
Bravur
Depancel
Detroit Watch Company
Douglas/Wolbrook
Dumoreau
On with the "E"- "H"s:
Echo/neutra
Farer
Ferro & Company
Forzo
Geckota
Haven
Helson
Hemel
Hitori
On with "I" - "M":
Islander
Laine
LeBois & Co
Le Forban
LIV
Lorier
Maen
Magrette
Marloe
Martenero
Continue with "M" - "P":
Massena LAB
Moels & Co
Nautage
Nezumi
Nine Four Watches
Nivada Grenchen
Ophion
OVD
Pook
On with "R" - "S":
REC
RLG
Roebuck
RZE
Seaborne
Seals Watch Co
Second Hour
Selten
Straton
From "T" - "Z":
TC9
Tornek-Rayville
Tribus
Unimatic
Vario
Vaymont
Waltham
WISE
Yema
Zelos
From "T" - "Z":
TC9
Tornek-Rayville
Tribus
Unimatic
Vario
Vaymont
Waltham
WISE
Yema
Zelos
Definitely a lot of my faves in there Mel. Thank you and nicely done.
Wow there are many I've never heard of. Incredible.
Oak and Oscar and Taso Baltimore.
Interested to see what the total number is…it feels like it is growing…are there any stats on that?
It will stick to 64.
I didn't find Traska
I didn't find Traska
They were in the mix last year.
Dornbluth & Sohn FTW (says the guy who has one as his profile pic...).
But seriously they're amazing and should be part of this!
Dornbluth & Sohn FTW (says the guy who has one as his profile pic...).
But seriously they're amazing and should be part of this!
You will never hear me arguing against them. I love what they do and eventually need to pull the trigger to buy one. Top tier watch makers. Only challenge is price if we try to keep this to 3,4, or 5k. I find once you get beyond $5k it opens up a ton of other brands, but sadly they are lesser known and if history means anything with this tournament, they usually get crushed by a smaller, more affordable, brand. Take a look at the bracket last year for a few examples. Hopefully a format change this year with help that.
Can I suggest my brand 47ZERO. It's tiny, but growing.
Swiss movements, french assembly (by me, trained horloger, based less than an hour from Geneva in beautiful Annecy). A range of models and all with a story behind their design. Customers from USA, Australia, EU, UK etc.
Promoted by YouTube's Caseback Tim and available through the casebackwatches.com online store.
Thank you for your consideration,
Cormac
Can I suggest my brand 47ZERO. It's tiny, but growing.
Swiss movements, french assembly (by me, trained horloger, based less than an hour from Geneva in beautiful Annecy). A range of models and all with a story behind their design. Customers from USA, Australia, EU, UK etc.
Promoted by YouTube's Caseback Tim and available through the casebackwatches.com online store.
Thank you for your consideration,
Cormac
Thank you for sharing! Some absolutely gorgeous dials. Thanks for sharing where to buy as well. We will see how much interest they draw for entry, but certainly have me looking at the site.
I'd like to add a few to the list, hopefully, most of these haven't been mentioned.
Farr & Swit
Isotope
Farer (I know they won last year, but I love these watches. Still lovin' my Lomond)
Bertucci
St. Moritz (Momentum)
Lüm-Tec
Swiss Watch Company
The Electricianz
Boderry
Botta
Christopher Ward
EC Andersson
Mr. Jones Watches
Hemel
Islander
Jack Mason
Jack Turner
Sō Labs
Unimatic
Vaer
Vero
I love Mr Jones !
I would also add Xeric who makes amazing alternative displays of time :
On with the "E"- "H"s:
Echo/neutra
Farer
Ferro & Company
Forzo
Geckota
Haven
Helson
Hemel
Hitori
I made a mistake checking out your post... So many cool watches to lust after. How to choose one?
On to the "B"-"D"s:
Baltic
Bamford
Behrens
Bern
Bernhardt
Bravur
Depancel
Detroit Watch Company
Douglas/Wolbrook
Dumoreau
Very nice La Vuelta. A bit like a mini planet Ocean which are far too large.
Can I suggest my brand 47ZERO. It's tiny, but growing.
Swiss movements, french assembly (by me, trained horloger, based less than an hour from Geneva in beautiful Annecy). A range of models and all with a story behind their design. Customers from USA, Australia, EU, UK etc.
Promoted by YouTube's Caseback Tim and available through the casebackwatches.com online store.
Thank you for your consideration,
Cormac
Cormac your watches are awesome!
I love mine...
Ah, thanks very much 😊
Thanks for sharing~